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Arthur Ashe Kids Day

Last weekend, Roger attended the 2008 Arthur Ashe Kids Day. The Kids Day is an annual tennis/children’s event by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York. It is a celebration of the memory of Arthur Ashe, who died of AIDS in 1993, and of his efforts to help young people through tennis. Kids’ Day began in 1993, the year that Ashe died. The main goal of the event is to entertain children and families and to raise money for charity.

Thousands of youngsters joined in a celebration of music, tennis and fun last Saturday, all while reflecting on the memory of Arthur Ashe, the first African American to win the US Open 40 years ago. Along with Roger, most of the big-name players entered in this year’s tournament took part in the 13th annual Kids Day: Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Serena and Venus Williams, James Blake and many more. Other special guests included were Demi Lovato, Menudo, Colby O'Donis and Push Play. Roger hit at targets for charity together with Lindsay Davenport, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal.

At the press conference before the start of the tournament Roger wasn't hiding the fact that his year has been disappointing but said he might benefit from the fact that the pressure was now on Nadal to justify his top ranking. “Five years almost I was expected to win every tournament I entered, except maybe toward the end a little bit on the clay,” he said. “Rafa will now feel what I had to feel for a very long time. And maybe it's nice for me to go into a Grand Slam for a change maybe not having No.1 next to me. It should be interesting."

Roger said his goal entering this year had been to win Wimbledon and then an Olympic gold. Well, he got the gold medal, only it was in doubles with Stanislas Wawrinka. “Honestly the celebration was much more intense,” he said. “It was very different to winning alone on a tennis court.”

Roger plays his first match today against Maximo Gonzalez from Argentina.